Ambassador Sherif M. Issa
His Excellency, Ambassador Sherif M. Issa is the Deputy Executive Director (DED) of the Women Development Organization (WDO) in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Ambassador Issa, a seasoned diplomat with over 36 years representing his country, the Arab Republic of Egypt, in several delegations around the world including Ambassador to UAE (2022 - September 2025); Ambassador to South Africa and non-resident in both Botswana and Lesotho (2016 - 2020); Consul General in Geneva, Switzerland (2009 - 2013); Counselor in Madrid, Spain (2003 - 2007); First Secretary in Muscat, Oman (1998 - 2001); Second Secretary in Asmara, Eritrea (1997 - 1998); and Third Secretary in Warsaw, Poland (1992 - 1996).
In homeland, Ambassador Issa served in numerous leadership and advisory positions at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Headquarters, where he severed as Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and Financial and Administrative Restructuring; Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs; Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Nile and International Rivers Affairs; Legal Advisor and Coordinator of the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served in various departments: Recruitment and Evaluation of the Diplomatic Corps and Inspection Department; International Law Department; and International Treaties Department.
Ambassador Issa comes from an extensive diplomatic career, he was assigned as Chairman of the Subcommittee for Amending the Diplomatic Corps Law; Chairman of the Restructuring Subcommittee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Coordinator of the Russia-Africa Conference; Coordinator of the Grand Egyptian Museum opening event; and between 2020 – 2022 as Member of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and Inspection Council; Member of the Oral Examinations Committee for Recruitment to the Diplomatic Corps; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diplomatic Club; and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Insurance and Welfare Fund and the Egyptian Diplomats Association.
An ambassador-at-large, with many representational roles as Head of the Egyptian delegation at Stockholm Water Week (2014 – 2022); Head of the Egyptian delegation to the Islamic Conference, Istanbul (2016); Head of the Egyptian delegation to the World Water Forum (2015); Head of the Egyptian delegation to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Water meetings in Geneva (2014 – 2022); Head of the Egyptian delegation to the meetings of the Union of Islamic Judicial Bodies - Organization of the Islamic Conference in Tehran (2007 – 2008); Head of the Egyptian delegation at the African Union meetings on the demarcation of African borders (2007); Head of the Egyptian delegation to the Arab Water Agreement Drafting Committee, League of Arab States; Head of the Egyptian delegation at the Arab States meeting on combating terrorism in Algeria (2007); Egypt's representative at the Nile Basin Initiative meetings (2013 – 2016); Member of the Advisory Committee in the tripartite meetings on the Ethiopian dam (2013 – 2016); Member of the Egyptian delegation to the Multinational Force meetings (2007 – 2009); Member of the Egyptian delegation to the United Nations Crime Prevention Review Conference, Bali, Indonesia (2007); Member of the Egyptian delegation to the anti-piracy meetings, Djibouti (2007); Member of the Egyptian delegation to the first conference for the reconstruction of Iraq, Madrid (2005); Member of the Egyptian delegation to the drafting committee of the Convention on Tobacco Trade Ban, United Nations, Geneva (2001); and Representative of Egypt at the International Olive Council (IOC).
Born in Cairo in 1965, Ambassador Issa holds a Bachelor of Laws from Cairo University in 1987, a diploma in International Law from The Hague in 1990, followed by a diploma in Law of the Sea from Rhodes Academy of Maritime Sciences in 1996. He is fluent in English, French and Arabic. He is married and has two sons.
